128 research outputs found
Design of a Guidebook for the Acquisition and Use of Driving Simulators for Training Transit Bus Operators
The Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board recently sponsored an 18-month research program to develop a set of Guidelines that transit agency trainers and managers could use to (1) determine if driving simulators could help meet training objectives and (2) if so, what kind of simulators to acquire. The end product of this research is a set of task-based criteria that lead to specific simulator characteristics. That is, one should purchase a training simulator based upon what tasks need to be trained. This paper reports on the limited available data on the effectiveness of driving simulators for training, the task clusters various technologies can train, and the decision aids developed for transit agencies that actually have applicability to any potential user of training simulation. The project included a literature review, visits to driving simulator users nationwide, a review of European simulator programs, and the collection of training data and accident data from both users and non-users of driving simulators. Instructors, students, course graduates, and managers were interviewed. The results of the research are presented and a simulator evaluation methodology is proposed
Imaging magnetic vortex configurations in ferromagnetic nanotubes
We image the remnant magnetization configurations of CoFeB and permalloy
nanotubes (NTs) using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism photo-emission electron
microscopy. The images provide direct evidence for flux-closure configurations,
including a global vortex state, in which magnetization points
circumferentially around the NT axis. Furthermore, micromagnetic simulations
predict and measurements confirm that vortex states can be programmed as the
equilibrium remnant magnetization configurations by reducing the NT aspect
ratio.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, link to supplementary informatio
Magnetization reversal of an individual exchange biased permalloy nanotube
We investigate the magnetization reversal mechanism in an individual
permalloy (Py) nanotube (NT) using a hybrid magnetometer consisting of a
nanometer-scale SQUID (nanoSQUID) and a cantilever torque sensor. The Py NT is
affixed to the tip of a Si cantilever and positioned in order to optimally
couple its stray flux into a Nb nanoSQUID. We are thus able to measure both the
NT's volume magnetization by dynamic cantilever magnetometry and its stray flux
using the nanoSQUID. We observe a training effect and temperature dependence in
the magnetic hysteresis, suggesting an exchange bias. We find a low blocking
temperature K, indicating the presence of a thin
antiferromagnetic native oxide, as confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy
on similar samples. Furthermore, we measure changes in the shape of the
magnetic hysteresis as a function of temperature and increased training. These
observations show that the presence of a thin exchange-coupled native oxide
modifies the magnetization reversal process at low temperatures. Complementary
information obtained via cantilever and nanoSQUID magnetometry allows us to
conclude that, in the absence of exchange coupling, this reversal process is
nucleated at the NT's ends and propagates along its length as predicted by
theory.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Bridging the Mid-Infrared-to-Telecom Gap with Silicon Nanophotonic Spectral Translation
Expanding far beyond traditional applications in optical interconnects at
telecommunications wavelengths, the silicon nanophotonic integrated circuit
platform has recently proven its merits for working with mid-infrared (mid-IR)
optical signals in the 2-8 {\mu}m range. Mid-IR integrated optical systems are
capable of addressing applications including industrial process and
environmental monitoring, threat detection, medical diagnostics, and free-space
communication. Rapid progress has led to the demonstration of various silicon
components designed for the on-chip processing of mid-IR signals, including
waveguides, vertical grating couplers, microcavities, and electrooptic
modulators. Even so, a notable obstacle to the continued advancement of
chip-scale systems is imposed by the narrow-bandgap semiconductors, such as
InSb and HgCdTe, traditionally used to convert mid-IR photons to electrical
currents. The cryogenic or multi-stage thermo-electric cooling required to
suppress dark current noise, exponentially dependent upon the ratio Eg/kT, can
limit the development of small, low-power, and low-cost integrated optical
systems for the mid-IR. However, if the mid-IR optical signal could be
spectrally translated to shorter wavelengths, for example within the
near-infrared telecom band, photodetectors using wider bandgap semiconductors
such as InGaAs or Ge could be used to eliminate prohibitive cooling
requirements. Moreover, telecom band detectors typically perform with higher
detectivity and faster response times when compared with their mid-IR
counterparts. Here we address these challenges with a silicon-integrated
approach to spectral translation, by employing efficient four-wave mixing (FWM)
and large optical parametric gain in silicon nanophotonic wires
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Bioavailability in soils
The consumption of locally-produced vegetables by humans may be an important exposure pathway for soil contaminants in many urban settings and for agricultural land use. Hence, prediction of metal and metalloid uptake by vegetables from contaminated soils is an important part of the Human Health Risk Assessment procedure. The behaviour of metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, lead and zinc) and metalloids (arsenic, boron and selenium) in contaminated soils depends to a large extent on the intrinsic charge, valence and speciation of the contaminant ion, and soil properties such as pH, redox status and contents of clay and/or organic matter. However, chemistry and behaviour of the contaminant in soil alone cannot predict soil-to-plant transfer. Root uptake, root selectivity, ion interactions, rhizosphere processes, leaf uptake from the atmosphere, and plant partitioning are important processes that ultimately govern the accumulation ofmetals and metalloids in edible vegetable tissues. Mechanistic models to accurately describe all these processes have not yet been developed, let alone validated under field conditions. Hence, to estimate risks by vegetable consumption, empirical models have been used to correlate concentrations of metals and metalloids in contaminated soils, soil physico-chemical characteristics, and concentrations of elements in vegetable tissues. These models should only be used within the bounds of their calibration, and often need to be re-calibrated or validated using local soil and environmental conditions on a regional or site-specific basis.Mike J. McLaughlin, Erik Smolders, Fien Degryse, and Rene Rietr
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